Mirror of Soul

The laws of science teach us a pound of gold weighs as

much as a pound of flour though if dropped from any

undetermined height in their natural state one would

reach bottom and one would fly away

Laws of motion tell us an inert object is more difficult to

propel than an object heading in the wrong direction is to

turn around. Motion being energy—inertia—apathy.

Apathy equals hostility. Hostility—violence. Violence

being energy is its own virtue. Laws of motion teach us

Black people are no less confused because of our

Blackness than we are diffused because of our

powerlessness. Man we are told is the only animal who

smiles with his lips. The eyes however are the mirror of

the soul

The problem with love is not what we feel but what we

wish we felt when we began to feel we should feel

something. Just as publicity is not production: seduction

is not seductive

If I could make a wish I’d wish for all the knowledge of all

the world. Black may be beautiful Professor Micheau

says but knowledge is power. Any desirable object is

bought and sold—any neglected object declines in value.

It is against man’s nature to be in either category

If white defines Black and good defines evil then men

define women or women scientifically speaking describe

men. If sweet is the opposite of sour and heat the

absence of cold then love is the contradiction of pain and

beauty is in the eye of the beheld

Sometimes I want to touch you and be touched in

return. But you think I’m grabbing and I think you’re

shirking and Mama always said to look out for men like

you

So I go to the streets with my lips painted red and my

eyes carefully shielded to seduce the world my reluctant

lover

And you go to your men slapping fives feeling good

posing as a man because you know as long as you sit

very very still the laws of motion will be in effect

 - Nikki Giovanni, “The Laws of Motion”

Over the years I realized that a great deal of the inspiration for my pieces comes from the randomness of my day to day in Addis Ababa. When I first moved here in 2007, I was obsessed with capturing as many moments as possible.  I found a great deal of motivation from the light, the people, the streets and all that I encountered. I realize looking back that the foundation of my visual language stems from my experiences as a photojournalist. Yet I choose to express myself in this form because it offered me a visual language that helped me express my thoughts, emotions and experiences.  In the process of developing the collection, I also drew a great deal of inspiration from poetry.

I have often found that a poem can evoke sentiments that I am not able to visualize. In this instance, I chose the poetry of Nikki Gionanni because after piecing together the final selection, her poetry gave a soul to the pieces and assured the thoughts that lingered in my mind. Hence, in this new collection, my main focus has been to share what is within me with great passion and intensity. I often mention my professor Haile Gerima, who would state that art is when you “vomit” what is within you, and to share it with fearless honesty.  This new collection is based on living in moments of uncertainty and the global phenomena of having to embrace unpredictability.  As a generation that has encountered a world of great advancements and historical lessons, our greatest downfall will be in our loss of faith in the power of compassion and kindness.